Can-head-cutting machine.



P. J. WESOLOWSKI. CAN HEAD CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED H112, 1910.

1,100,802. I Y Patented June 23,1914,

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. WESOIDWSKI, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Head- Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates particularly to can and simple construction of a machine for this purpose, in the peculiar arrangement and. combination of its parts, and in various details of construction as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a view, partly in side'elevation and partly in section, of a can opener embodying my invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detached perspec-.

tive views of parts of the mechanism; Fig. i is a perspective view of the top member or plate detached; and Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the can support, with the top member or plate removed, illustrating the construction of the clamping mechanism.

In the drawings thus briefly described, A r presents a base section, upon which the can to be opened is mounted, and B an upright or standard at one sidethereof and preferably connected thereto, the parts being usually constructed to form a single casting.

The base as shown has its top surface recessed, as at a, andrvertically, as at Z the two recesses communicating (as shown in" Fig. 1) and adjoining the horizontal recess with a bore or socket c.

0 represents the can support, mounted upon the base for rotary movement. It is loosely sleeved upon a rotary actuating member such as a stub shaft D that fits with in the socket 0, and above the socket within the recess a it carries a gear wheel E. The support comprises a rotatable supporting member'F loose upon the shaft D and resting on the base, and with a cover section G, between which parts are arranged the sliding clamping jaws H and I that serve to grip and hold the can.. The jaws,-as shown, are provided with shank portions d, each longitudinally slotted, as at e, and the plate F of the support carries studs f and 9 that engage the slots described, and also raised portions h at opposite sides that extend flush with the jaw shanks and serve as supports for the cover section G, the latter being se- Speciflcatlon of Letters Patent.

Application filed Ziehruary 2, 1910. Serial no. 541,609.

Patented June 23, 1914.

to a shaft M journaled in the base, which carries at its inner end a gear 0 meshin with the gear E previously described, fixed uponthe stub shaft D.

The standard B at its upper end is formed with a reduced section P, the extremity of which is screw-threaded, as at m. Swiveled upon this reduced portion is a sleeve Q', and projecting laterally from this sleeve and pivoted thereto for vertical movement or adj ustment is an arm R carrying at its extremity a cutter S, the arm being of suflicient length to position the cutter over the can support to properly engage the can head.

In construction, the cutter comprises a head T, the usual cutter blade U, and a shank V having a screw-threaded engagement with the head and'being spaced from the knife a sufficient distance to permit of its use'as a guard or guide member for the cutter, this portion being adapted t0 contact with the body of .the can and thus guide the cutter in the opening of the head.

The arm connecting the cutter to the standard is preferably composed of parallel links V and W, pivoted at their ends to the cutter-head and to the sleeve, this construction producing a parallelogram movement of the cutter, so that in raising or lowering the same in relation to the base in opening cans of different height the cutter will always be maintained in its proper vertical position.

y beyond theperiphery of the sup-' In the operation of the mechanism, the can i to be opened is first placed upon its support, the jaws having previously been prop erly opened to receive the can base. Upon rotation of the crank, the jaws first operate and clamp the can, and upon subsequent rotation the can is revolved. The cutter is then raised or lowered the re uired distance to engage the-can head, and 1s shifted in a horizontal plane through its swiveled connectionwith thefstandard to bring the knife to the proper cutting position with the guide V adjoining the can.body. The knife is then driven downwardly into the can, and

the latter rotated, and the can head is re-.

moved.

In practice, I find it desirable to provide means for holding the cutter downwardly into engagement with the can during the operation of cutting, and for this purpose I have provided a spring X that serves normally to depress the cutter. This springis usually arranged within a fork Y formed upon the link end adjoining the sleeve, with its opposite ends engaging respectively the sleeve and the arm or link.

gripping of the can on its support and tleerotation of the can is effected throu h the agency of a single controlling mem er or operating device, which not only simplifies the construction of the machine but also its operation, Furthermore, the cutter .is iremovable from its supporting head, and can be readily removed either for repair or replacement.

.VVhat I claim as my invention is,

1. In a can opener, the combination with a rotatable support, of clamping jaws for the can mounted upon the support for movement transversely thereof, but secured thereto against relative rotation, said jaws being provided with racks, a vertical shaft upon which saidsupport is loosely mounted, a pinion fiXed to said shaft engaging said racks, a rotatable actuating member, and a direct connection between said actuating member and said shaft independent of said pinion and racks.

2. In a can opener, the combination with a rotatable support, of clamping jaws for the can mounted upon the upper face of the support for movement transversely of the Two of these. ,springs may be employed, if desired. It islatter but secured thereto against relative rotatirfin, said jaws being rovided with'longitudinal rack's on the si es thereof, a vertical shaft upon which said support is loosely mounted, a pinion fixed to said shaft above the support and engaging said racks, a rotatable actuating member, and a direct connection between said actuating member and said shaft independent of said pinion and rack.

3. In a can opener, the combination with a base having a recess therein, a vertical rotatable shaft havin a bearing in said recess, a pinion carr1ed by said shaft positioned beneath the upper face of said base, a gear meshing with said pinion, a handle for rotating said gear, a rotatable support resting on the base and loosely sleeved in said rotatable shaft, clamping jaws positioned in said support having longitudinal slots therein, studs carried by said support engaging said slots and permitting transverse movement of said jaws relative to said support, a cover section positioned above said jaws upon which the can to be opened is placed, said support having a raised portion for supporting said cover, said jaws having teeth adapted to engage said pinion for clamplin said jaws upon the initial turning of t e andle, the connection between the studs and the slots in said jaws preventing the rotation of said jaws relative to said support and cooperating to rotate the support in the clamped position of said jaws.

4. In a can opener, the combination with a base, of a rotatable shaft mounted therein, a supporting member mounted on said base and loosely sleeved on said shaft, pinions fixedly secured to said shaft above and below said supporting member jaws positioned above said supporting member on opposite sides ofthe upper pinion and having teeth engaging therewith, slots in the shank portions of said j aws,.and studs carried by said supporting member permitting transverse movement of said aws but preventlng rotary movement thereof relative to said supporting member, and means for rotating the lower pinion. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER J. WESOLOWSKI. Witnesses:

JAMEs P. BARRY, W. J. BELKNAP. 

